Global Period: What it Does (and Does Not) Include

The CPT® codebook defines the following as “always included” in the global fee (global period) for a surgery or procedure:

Subsequent to the decision for surgery (procedure), one related E/M encounter on the date immediately prior to, or on the date of, the procedure

Immediate postoperative (post-procedure) care, including talking with the family and other physicians

Regarding diagnostic procedures, CPT® further specifies, “Follow-up care for diagnostic procedures includes only that care related to recovery from the diagnostic procedure itself. Care of the condition for which the diagnostic procedure was performed or of other co-existing conditions is not included” [emphasis added].

John Verhovshek, MA, CPC, is Managing Editor at AAPC. He has covered medical coding and billing, healthcare policy, and the business of medicine since 1999. He is an alumnus of York College of Pennsylvania and Clemson University, and a member of the Asheville-Hendersonville AAPC Local Chapter.

John Verhovshek, MA, CPC, is Managing Editor at AAPC. He has covered medical coding and billing, healthcare policy, and the business of medicine since 1999. He is an alumnus of York College of Pennsylvania and Clemson University, and a member of the Asheville-Hendersonville AAPC Local Chapter.